A young Cuban woman, Rachel Rubio, known for her work as a truck driver in the United States, recently expressed her sorrow over the tragic murder of her stepmother, Niurka Alfonso Acevedo, at the hands of her father, Cándido Raúl Rubio Pérez. The horrific incident occurred earlier this week in Nashville, Tennessee.
In a video circulating on social media, Rachel—who is from Rubio Pérez's first marriage—shared emotional insights about her father's tumultuous relationship with her stepmother, which spanned over two decades. "It was 24 years of violence. This didn't just happen out of the blue; it was 24 years of separation and reunions, always accompanied by violence," Rachel shared in a TikTok video that she later removed.
Addressing other women, she implored, "Do not allow a man to mistreat you for so many years. A united family is not always a happy family. Just because children are raised in a united family doesn't mean they are happy, as it often leads to trauma, as I personally experienced when I witnessed my parents' issues until I was five."
Rachel detailed her father's abusive lifestyle, including his use of "substances inhaled through the nose," and mentioned his frequent visits to swinger clubs with his ex-partner. After her parents' separation, which happened when she was five, she continued to witness familial problems. "We all suffered from it as children," she stated.
Shock and Disbelief Over the Tragic Event
Rachel expressed her disbelief over the murder committed by her father. "I'm still in shock. I can't believe it; I never thought my dad was capable of this," she said. She noted that she had last seen him in North Carolina a few weeks before the tragedy, observing that he seemed "disturbed," though she never imagined he would harm another person.
She recounted how her aunt, her father's sister, once took him to Mexico to seek psychiatric help due to his unstable mental state. Despite these efforts, Rachel mentioned that he was an adult who could not be forced to accept help. "We tried to help him, but he refused assistance," she added.
Regarding her father's relationship with his ex-partner, Rachel described how he stalked her, monitoring her movements from his car, which was known to the family. "Women, be very careful. This is monstrous and unbelievable; we're all in shock because no one expected this," she concluded.
Capture of the Perpetrator
Cándido Raúl Rubio Pérez, aged 54, was apprehended on Thursday night by the U.S. Marshal's Task Force at an apartment complex in Madison, a neighborhood in northeast Nashville, within Davidson County, according to the Nashville Police Department. A striking image released by the police showed Rubio Pérez crying during his arrest.
After fatally stabbing his ex-partner, Niurka Alfonso Acevedo, 52, near Chadwell Elementary School in Madison on the morning of April 14, Rubio Pérez fled the scene. The victim, also Cuban and employed as a school cleaner, was found lifeless in the parking lot by a staff member who alerted 911. Her body was discovered at approximately 6 a.m. on Monday before students arrived. Detectives suspect that Rubio Pérez had been waiting for his ex-partner before carrying out the attack.
FAQs About the Tragic Incident in Nashville
What led to the murder of Niurka Alfonso Acevedo?
The murder was the culmination of 24 years of a violent relationship between Niurka Alfonso Acevedo and Cándido Raúl Rubio Pérez, marked by periodic separations and reunions.
How was Cándido Raúl Rubio Pérez apprehended?
He was arrested by a U.S. Marshal's Task Force in an apartment complex in Madison, Nashville, after fleeing the scene of the crime.
How did Rachel Rubio describe her father's behavior before the incident?
Rachel described her father as being disturbed and often talking as if saying goodbye, which led her to believe he might harm himself rather than others.